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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopian Airlines will start flying to Sao Paulo, Brazil in December this year, the first scheduled flight to South America for the Ethiopian national flag carrier.

Ethiopian will launch a thrice weekly flight to Sao Paulo with Dreamliner aircraft which the airline expects to receive from Boeing in August and September.

Ethiopian CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, told Flight Global that the national flag carrier will operate the Sao Paulo flight via Lome, Togo where its West African venture ASKY Airline is based. Lome is planned to be Ethiopian West African hub. ASKY will be used as a feeder to Ethiopian to the Sao Paulo flight.

According to Tewolde, Ethiopian will have a “heavy emphasis” on Brazil, China and India and claims these countries will drive the “huge growth” central to its Vision 2025 strategy. Ethiopian will also broaden its African base reach, Tewolde adds, with a hub in Southern Africa – in Zambia or Tanzania – as well as a central hub in “one of the Congos”, to complement its base at Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian will start new flights to Toronto in July and to the Namibian capital Windhoek following in October-November.

Tewolde stresses that the carrier, whose financial year ends in June, is profitable, even if it “might not have been as profitable as expected” in the Vision 2025 plan, owing to fuel prices. “But growth has been beyond our expectations,” he says, indicating it has achieved a traffic rise of 30 percent and forecasts a repeat for the next fiscal year.

He says Ethiopian is trying to redress an imbalance, claiming 80 percent of African traffic is carried by non-African carriers. “It has to be fair,” he says.

Ethiopian’s mainline operation is one of seven business units which make up a broader aviation group, and Tewolde says some of these other activities must be developed to achieve its strategic plan. It has invested heavily in its training academy, with the first multi-crew pilot licence cadets coming onboard in January 2013, and intends to enhance its maintenance business.

Ethiopian Airlines will launch new flight services non-stop from Addis Ababa to Cotonou, Benin effective June 15, 2012. The introduction of the new services will expand the airline's extensive network in West Africa. The airline currently operates a total of 40 weekly flights to nine western African countries with daily east-west connections within the continent.

Besides this, the airline will also launch new flights from Addis Ababa to Toronto. The first flight will operate on July 16, 2012. This new flight will be the only regularly scheduled non-stop flights from Toronto to the African continent. The flight will be operated with the airline's new and ultra-modern B777-200LR aircraft, configured with 34 seats in Ethiopian’s luxurious Cloud Nine business class and 287 seats in economy class. Ethiopian Airlines was unable to start with more than two flights per week due to bilateral limitations, but plans to immediately increase the frequency once approval is obtained.

Toronto will be Ethiopian’s 67th international destination, and second in the Americas. With this new flight, Toronto will be connected to dozens of cities in Africa via Ethiopian’s hub at Addis Ababa, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Lusaka, Bujumbura, the Seychelles, Douala, Kinshasa, and Harare.

Tewolde Gebre Mariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines said, “It has been our vision to connect Toronto with our hub, Addis, and to the rest of the world. Now, Ethiopian Airlines is committed to start services to Toronto twice a week, introducing a new route between Africa and Canada. By adding Toronto to our network, Ethiopian reinforces the ties between Canada and Ethiopia enhancing trade and investment. Also the new service to Benin will further strengthen the airline's presence in Western African markets by widening flight options to its passengers.”

South African Airways starting 13SEP12 is launching Johannesburg – Brazzaville service, where it’ll operate the service twice a week, on board Airbus A319. The Star Alliance member in mid-90s offered service to Brazzaville as codeshare service operated by now-defunct Air Afrique.

South African Airways starting 17AUG12 will resume service to Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, with 2 weekly service via Accra. On 18JUN12, Airline Route reported the Star Alliance is adjusting operational schedule on 2 of 7 weekly Accra service, but did not report that the change is due to extending Accra flight to Abidjan.

Thursday, June 21, 2012
Qatar Airways announced a further expansion of its African operations with plans to launch scheduled flights to Mozambique, effective October 31.

Thrice-weekly flights will operate from Doha to Mozambique’s capital city of Maputo via Johannesburg, becoming the 20th African destination served by the award-winning airline.

The former Portuguese colony in southern Africa becomes Qatar Airways’ fourth new route across the diverse African continent to be launched during 2012. The Maputo service will be operated by the airline’s flagship long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft.

Bordering the Indian Ocean, Mozambique has an economy based on natural resources, largely agriculture. Chemical manufacturing, aluminium and petroleum production are significant growth sectors, attracting investment from around the world. Maputo is a city steeped in colonial architecture reflecting its strong Portuguese heritage.

Mozambique is another example of Qatar Airways’ commitment to open up access to destinations that are largely underserved by international airlines and have great market potential.

In Africa alone this year, Qatar Airways has pursued its strategy aggressively of focusing on underserved markets. The carrier recently launched daily scheduled services from its Doha hub to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda in east Africa.

On July 25, Qatar Airways will start daily operations to Kilimanjaro, the airline’s second Tanzanian gateway, followed on August 15 by the introduction of daily flights to Mombasa, its second point in Kenya, with both destinations aimed largely at the leisure market. Last year, Africa secured two new routes – Benghazi in Libya and the Ugandan city of Entebbe.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “This truly is the year of an African adventure for Qatar Airways with the introduction of four new routes on this Continent of diverse landscapes, diverse peoples, diverse cultures and diverse natural attractions.

“At Qatar Airways, we have a robust planning team that is always busy evaluating and researching potential markets with the underlying mission to open up new destinations that are highly underserved internationally. Whether in Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East or Americas, we have identified great opportunities where other carriers dare not venture into.

“Mozambique is a great example of a market that we believe has great potential linking up with key feeder markets in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.”

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 15 years of operation, currently operating a modern fleet of 109 aircraft to 116 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Since the beginning of the year, aside from the launch of flights to Kigali, Qatar Airways has begun services to Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi (Georgia); Zagreb (Croatia), Erbil (Iraq) and Baghdad (Iraq), with many more new destinations planned during 2012.

Over the next few months, aside from Kilimanjaro and Mombasa, Qatar Airways launches services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Perth, Australia (July 3); Yangon, Myanmar (October 3) and a date yet-to-be-announced to the Serbian capital Belgrade.

Kenya and Russia are set to sign a bilateral air traffic agreement that will allow their national carriers to fly directly to Moscow and Nairobi respectively.

The deal was arrived at during a meeting between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Russia President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 2012 St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which ended on Saturday.

Kilimanjaro International Airport became the first African destination for the Ethiopian Airlines’ newly acquired and highly coveted Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner.

Tourists and other passengers disembark the "Africa First" dreamliner flight number 787-8 at Kilimanjaro International Airport (Africa's Eden gateway) in Northern Tanzania

Captains and Crew of the First Dreamliner cuts a cake to mark the aircraft’s maiden flight whose first destination was in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro.

The Dreamliner dubbed ‘Africa’s First,’ taxied at KIA runaway on Monday, afternoon, amid cheers from spectators who gathered at Tanzania’s second largest airport to witness the historic event, where the 389-seater aircraft landed for the first time.

Speaking during the occasion, an Ethiopian Airlines representative, Ms Nadia Ahmed, said the choice of Kilimanjaro as the Dreamliner’s first destination only goes to reinforce the company’s commitment in connecting Tanzania’s Northern Zone Circuit to the world.

The Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO) Operations Manager, Mr Christopher Mukoma, said it was great honour for KIA to be the first African airport to handle the continent’s only Dreamliner.

The Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, in a statement availed here said the first Ethiopian Dreamliner arrived on the continent touching down at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa on Friday, 17 August 2012.

“The first flight of Ethiopian Dreamliner dubbed ‘The Dream Tour,’ was conducted last Saturday; August 18, 2012, with a sightseeing flight to Mount Kilimanjaro for around 270 invited guests, consisting of ministers, ambassadors, other VIPs, Ethiopian Sheba Miles Gold Members and media”.

The 787-800 Dreamliner, until recently was only operated by two Japanese airlines, is Chicago-based Boeing’s most advanced plane. It is made out of lighter, composite material, 50 per cent of which is carbon fiber – that allows airlines to save on fuel costs.

Large windows provide a stronger connection to the outside world, on-board humidity is increased and the cabin pressure is closer to what it feels like on the ground. LED lights that slowly change colour is another feature designed to fight flight fatigue.

The Dreamliner will be operating on rotation basis to African destinations such as Kilimanjaro, Mombasa, Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi, Entebbe, Lagos, Johannesburg, Abuja, Malabo, Douala, Lome, Accra, Maputo, Luanda as well as to Dubai, Mumbai, Rome, London and Frankfurt.

Kilimanjaro Airport is becoming busy again with introduction of new landings for other carriers such as Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways and according to tourism minister Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, other airlines including the Emirates, will be introducing flights soon.

Thank u Ethiopian Airline Tanzanians love to board ur Airline since it is affordable and u r a reliable partner! U were the pioneer on this route to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Northern Tanzania while other countries tried so much to claim the Mt is in their backyard and only introduce the route when they saw more major airlines r going there! We as Tanzanians will reward ur trust on that route while waiting for ur hub establishment for Southern Africa!

Kilimanjaro International Airport became the first African destination for the Ethiopian Airlines’ newly acquired and highly coveted Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner.

Tourists and other passengers disembark the "Africa First" dreamliner flight number 787-8 at Kilimanjaro International Airport (Africa's Eden gateway) in Northern Tanzania

Captains and Crew of the First Dreamliner cuts a cake to mark the aircraft’s maiden flight whose first destination was in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro.

The Dreamliner dubbed ‘Africa’s First,’ taxied at KIA runaway on Monday, afternoon, amid cheers from spectators who gathered at Tanzania’s second largest airport to witness the historic event, where the 389-seater aircraft landed for the first time.

Speaking during the occasion, an Ethiopian Airlines representative, Ms Nadia Ahmed, said the choice of Kilimanjaro as the Dreamliner’s first destination only goes to reinforce the company’s commitment in connecting Tanzania’s Northern Zone Circuit to the world.

The Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO) Operations Manager, Mr Christopher Mukoma, said it was great honour for KIA to be the first African airport to handle the continent’s only Dreamliner.

The Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, in a statement availed here said the first Ethiopian Dreamliner arrived on the continent touching down at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa on Friday, 17 August 2012.

“The first flight of Ethiopian Dreamliner dubbed ‘The Dream Tour,’ was conducted last Saturday; August 18, 2012, with a sightseeing flight to Mount Kilimanjaro for around 270 invited guests, consisting of ministers, ambassadors, other VIPs, Ethiopian Sheba Miles Gold Members and media”.

The 787-800 Dreamliner, until recently was only operated by two Japanese airlines, is Chicago-based Boeing’s most advanced plane. It is made out of lighter, composite material, 50 per cent of which is carbon fiber – that allows airlines to save on fuel costs.

Large windows provide a stronger connection to the outside world, on-board humidity is increased and the cabin pressure is closer to what it feels like on the ground. LED lights that slowly change colour is another feature designed to fight flight fatigue.

The Dreamliner will be operating on rotation basis to African destinations such as Kilimanjaro, Mombasa, Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi, Entebbe, Lagos, Johannesburg, Abuja, Malabo, Douala, Lome, Accra, Maputo, Luanda as well as to Dubai, Mumbai, Rome, London and Frankfurt.

Kilimanjaro Airport is becoming busy again with introduction of new landings for other carriers such as Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways and according to tourism minister Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, other airlines including the Emirates, will be introducing flights soon.

Thank u Ethiopian Airline Tanzanians love to board ur Airline since it is affordable and u r a reliable partner! U were the pioneer on this route to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Northern Tanzania while other countries tried so much to claim the Mt is in their backyard and only introduce the route when they saw more major airlines r going there! We as Tanzanians will reward ur trust on that route while waiting for ur hub establishment for Southern Africa!

I saw this on a local newspaper...its fantastic times for KIA. Now waiting for Turkish and Emirates to start flying into KIA.

Thank u Ethiopian Airline Tanzanians love to board ur Airline since it is affordable and u r a reliable partner! U were the pioneer on this route to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Northern Tanzania while other countries tried so much to claim the Mt is in their backyard and only introduce the route when they saw more major airlines r going there! We as Tanzanians will reward ur trust on that route while waiting for ur hub establishment for Southern Africa!